does anyone know a good tube amp repair shop in Ny (manhattan, east village)? I just moved here and need one pronto!

Also, random question for any of you guys that might know a bit about software. I am checking out some software for a friend of mine. he is working for a store that needs a software that will make him playlists. the company is very anti-apple so genius is out. is there anything else (hopefully can function without internet and interruptions- last.fm and pandora are out)

It has been 9 hours, I'll pipe in though I don't live in Manhattan. Musical instrument repair services are familiar with tube electronics because a lot of guitar amps still use them. There should be some in the phone book. If you want to go one level down, people that buy & sell old guitar amps on craigslist are in the business kind of informally- they may be cheaper, then again they may move away and take their amp with them. It is your choice.

does anyone know a good tube amp repair shop in Ny (manhattan, east village)? I just moved here and need one pronto!

Also, random question for any of you guys that might know a bit about software. I am checking out some software for a friend of mine. he is working for a store that needs a software that will make him playlists. the company is very anti-apple so genius is out. is there anything else (hopefully can function without internet and interruptions- last.fm and pandora are out)

Thanks!

Tell them such religious beliefs are irrational and simply use iTunes.

As a software developer I can tell you first hand that VERY few developers are motivated to write software to implement a function that everyone can already do for free. iTunes is a free download that is in wide use.

About your broken amp, why not describe the problem. It is always best to look at it yourself and eliminate very simple things. There is a safety issue. Never poke around the inside of a tube amp (even if it is unplugged from AC mains) if you don't understand high voltage but there are a few simple things anyone can learn and a cheap $15 meter is all you need to find 80% of what could be wrong.

Itunes is a useful device for people that are tired of juggling cassette tapes. Otherwise, why not upgrade and get a 1" diameter speaker. Blah! Ear buds!!! Those professional in ear devices from Plantronics and Shure can provide decent sound, but earbuds?? I've heard MP3, and if Itunes is better I would be shocked. Grainy, noisy. CD's are just barely OK. If apple has anything they had better start demonstrating at the mall and fairs, because I'm not buying a pig in a poke. Begone, to the digital source thread!

Itunes is a useful device for people that are tired of juggling cassette tapes. Otherwise, why not upgrade and get a 1" diameter speaker.

You might be confusing the software, iTunes with the audio data files it manages and with the playback equipment. All three are in fact independent. For example, I have some high quality 96K rips from vinyl stored in iTunes. The sound goes through fiber s/pdif and eventually to a pair of vintage Infinity speakers. The iTunes software has nothing to do with audio quality. It is pushing the data bit for bit out the fiber cable.

I agree about Analog sources, last night I was able to play a real acoustic grand piano. Such a difference between that and a recording of same. But on the CD recordings the pianist is incomparably more skilled then I.

[QUOTE=Eli Duttman;2384153]Blackie Pagano is a distinct possibility and his site is here.QUOTE]

I was going to recommend him too, but he now lives in LA. But give him a call and he probably knows competent fellow repair guys from NYC from when he used to live there.
Sorry for the mis-spellings.... This site needs spell check!
Daniel

As a software developer I can tell you first hand that VERY few developers are motivated to write software to implement a function that everyone can already do for free. iTunes is a free download that is in wide use.

I actually ended up finding a different software for Mike (the friend I was asking for). It's called mufin. I haven't used it enough to recommend it completely, but my he seems to like it so far.

As far as my amp goes. It is pretty much the first tube amp I've ever had to repair, so I am a bit wary of messing with it myself. So, though there might be some 'sticker shock', I'll suck it up and pay.

I haven't been able to get a hold of Blackie Pagano, but I'm going to try back tomorrow.